Carbon

I am in the market for a new vehicle and was considering the two of these. I test drove both cars and they both seem pretty fun and quick. My last car was a 4 cylinder turbo, so there's no change on that front besides the additional power. The STi seemed to have less turbo lag as it runs lower boost and is a 2.5 liter with 300 hp while the Evo is a 2.0 liter with 286 horsepower, but also I didn't think about turbo lag until I drove the Evo, so it's possible that I didn't look for it.

The gearbox in the STi had an optional short shift throw kit, and the clutch travel was very small between the floor and its resting state, especially compared to my last car (Audi TT 1.8T 225). The clutch on the Evo had a little bit longer of a travel, but the big difference was the shifting. The throws on the Evo gearbox were a lot longer than in the STi as you can imagine. Also, the Evo didn't feel as smooth clicking in between gears as the STi, but this could just be it needing to be broken in.

The seats in the Evo are definitely better as they have more lateral support and fit my more slim body type better. I had forgotten that leather was available on the Evo, and the one I drove did have it. I could live with leather up where I'm living now as it doesn't get very hot up there, but down in Los Angeles back home the stuff gets really hot. I remember in a review of the STi them talking about how they made the seats wider for our market because us Americans can be pretty wide sometimes (especially comapared to the Japanese market). For besides the front seats, the Subaru has a nicer overall interior. The stereo system in the Evo is a better design for me personally when compared to the Subaru, but both are pretty good. I hate stereos that don't have a knob for tuning up and down on the radio. The Evo stereo was also more powerful since I suppose their sound package does more than the Subaru's.

The steering in the Evo is a bit lighter than the STi, but both are very tossable and quick to react to every input. The ride quality difference wasn't that noticeable, but the Subaru is sprung a little softer and has a little more body roll in the turns from what I've read on it.

I drove the regular 5 speed Evo IX and not the MR that has the different wheels, Bilstein shocks, vortex generator, and most importantly, the 6 speed transmission. Even if I were to get an Evo, I'm not sure which I would get yet although I'm leaning towards the MR.

As for styling, I like how the Mitsubishi looks much better. If I did get one, I'd replace the rear bumper with the Euro/Japanese spec one since it looks so much better. I'd also have to get rid of the awful front license plate mount which totally ruins the front end. When they first released the pictures of the third facelift of this model of Impreza, I thought it was hideous. But time has gotten me more used to the look and in person it made a pretty good impression on me considering what I had thought initially.

The dealership experience at Subaru was great (the place is a Dodge/Subaru dealer as the father runs the Dodge and his son runs the Subaru, go figure). They had 14+ STis and were very nice. At the Mitsubishi dealer, they only had 2 Evos, one on the lot and the other was the MR in the showroom. The salesman was sort of lame but a nice guy and the manager was a total prick, very controlling and barely even let us test drive the car. This doesn't really reflect on the brands too much for me because I'm sure there's good and bad dealerships all over for each brand.

I'm making a poll of this because I'm curious to know what you guys think of the cars and which you would rather buy and live with based on what you know about them or whatever. Both are around the same price and with very similar performance stats.

Mitsubish Lancer Evolution IX (MR shown):



Subaru Impreza WRX STi:

Just_me

I always been a EVO fan and I like version 8 the best.

Carbon

I also thought it was interesting as both models are in their third variation for their platform. VII, VIII, and IX for the Evo and I don't know how they differentiate them in the Subaru community, but there was the round lights, then the one with the round and square part, then what we have now. It seems that both the Impreza and the Evolution will have to be brand new cars in their next iteration.

martinbo

Carbon, both cars perform equally admirably and when it comes to outright pace it's simply down to the driver.

My advice, of course, would be to go for the STi. It's just better built, its controls more precise and better weighted and ultimately it's the more characterful car and satisfying ownership prospect. Six speed 'box vs five speed? In cars with such potent, rapid fire power delivery? No contest...

Alx

I say the Mitsu for sure... though i like the Subaru looks as well.

Carbon

Yeah but then there's the MR which has a six speed box if that's what you're after. I'm trying to see if I can rent both cars somewhere and live with them for a while to aid me in my decision. Buying a car is a big deal and something that you will have to live with for a long time, so the decision is no trivial matter. I still haven't ruled out sacrificing some performance for another German vehicle that will be a little more refined and to parts of my brain other than the crazy driver.

martinbo

More fuel for thought Carbon; have you noticed how the STi - though stiff - rides a good deal better than the Mitsu? Sure, the MR is the pinnacle of performance for current EVO's - it is a distinctly more complex vehicle from a drivetrain layout point of view - it is however is only really suited to ultra smooth roads and, of course, track work where it undoubtedly bests the US-Spec STi 2.5 litre. The STi is every bit more suitable for general road use. It's more pliant, less snappy and a bit more conservative on turn-in.

I've been driven in an STi by a bonafide racing driver around a twisty test track and its astonishing ability is beyond question. STi doesn't oversteer? Yeah right...
The difference between it and the EVO, dynamically speaking, is just too close to call.

So for me it's down to the car that exudes the best build and mechanical integrity: something that will stand the test of time and in my experience that'll the be the STi.

Furthermore, look at Mitsubishi's torrid financial track record of late and compare that with Subaru's steady and consistent growth. Subaru is the more stable of the two.

Here's what the January edition of our local car publication had to say about STi 2.5:

1. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER2. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER3. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Carbon

Yeah, it's a tough call. I've actually heard that the Bilsteins on the MR make it more comfortable on the road and still improve cornering on the car, so it would seem they did their homework. I'm not sure how true that is, though, as I only heard it one time somewhere.

Carbon

Wow, it's a 50/50 split as of now...

sunnyman12

i broke the tie because i don't like subarus because back in the day there comercials used to make dun of BMW's..but there both great cars...also ive never seen an evo yet so i guess the more rare the better